Carnegie Nuclear Security Initiative to Address Global Nuclear Risks
The University of California, Berkeley’s Risk and Security Lab (BRSL) at the Goldman School of Public Policy is proud to announce the launch of the Carnegie Nuclear Security Initiative (CNSI)—a major new program focused on the future of nuclear policy, security, and governance in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
"Our shifting geopolitical landscape has made clear that nuclear security is not a challenge of the past—rather, it is being reshaped by advances in AI, space, and other frontier technologies. Through the Carnegie Nuclear Security Initiative, we are developing new tools and methods to bear on these hard and important problems while bringing interdisciplinary expertise and new voices into the conversation. This is how we ensure that the field evolves alongside the risks it seeks to address."
—Andrew W. Reddie, Faculty Director of BRSL
"UC Berkeley contributes so much, across so many fronts, to make America more secure. I'm delighted that we'll be contributing even more in the areas of nuclear-security research and education."
—Richard Lyons, Chancellor of UC Berkeley
The initiative has been made possible through a philanthropic grant of $500,000 from Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Housed within one of the world’s premier public universities, the Carnegie Nuclear Security Initiative will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research, teaching, and public engagement at the intersection of emerging technologies and international security.
"We're grateful for this critical seed grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The launch of the Berkeley Carnegie Nuclear Security Initiative will allow us to translate cutting-edge research into real-world solutions. This initiative underscores our role as a leader in bridging the gap between technological innovation and effective public policy, and it will be vital in training the next generation of leaders who will work to build a more secure world."
—David C. Wilson, Dean, Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley
A Timely Response to Growing Global Challenges
With traditional arms control frameworks under pressure and new technologies reshaping strategic dynamics, CNSI will focus on five core research areas:
- Nuclear Modernization and Military Integration
- Frontier Technologies and Strategic Stability
- Geopolitics, Arms Control, and the Future of Technology Governance
- The Political Economy of Nuclear Technology and Supply Chain Realignment
- Proliferation Pathways and Emerging Security Challenges
BRSL’s team draws from both technical and policy disciplines, bringing together experts in physics, engineering, computer science, and data analysis with scholars in international relations, law, and public policy to tackle these complex security challenges from multiple angles.
"As nuclear risks evolve in tandem with advances in AI, space, and other frontier technologies, there is an urgent need for independent, empirically grounded research that can inform policy before crises emerge. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to further our work on nuclear security."
—Leah Walker, Executive Director of BRSL
Educating the Next Generation of Nuclear Experts
The initiative will expand UC Berkeley’s educational offerings in nuclear security, including support for undergraduate and graduate courses, and the university’s unique dual-degree program in Nuclear Engineering and Public Policy.
"Emerging and disruptive technologies are rapidly reshaping our understanding of modern nuclear dangers. Carnegie is pleased to support this new initiative that will cultivate the next generation of scholarship and research to help practitioners and policymakers develop solutions to future nuclear challenges."
—James McKeon, Program Officer, International Program, Carnegie Corporation of New York
Bridging Research and Policy
CNSI will connect researchers with policymakers and practitioners through targeted briefings, international workshops, and strategic partnerships with U.S. government agencies, allied governments, and leading international organizations, including the United Nations and NATO.
The initiative will also collaborate with industry leaders from both the public and private sectors. This engagement is particularly important for frontier technologies, which are often being led by the private sector and, in some cases, firms that do not traditionally engage with security policy.